bula

papal bull

noun BOO-lah Rare

Origin: Latin bulla (sealed document, lead seal)

Also means

exemption, privilege

Usage Note

Bula originally referred to the lead seal (bula de plomo) that authenticated papal documents, then transferred to the document itself. In informal Latin American speech, bula also means a special exemption or free pass ('tener bula' = to get away with anything). The phrase tener bula del papa implies someone is untouchable.

Examples

"El papa firmó una bula histórica."

Natural Translation

The pope signed a historic bull.

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